How the rules affect painters

Effective 2010 if you are working for compensation on a project that will disturb paint in a home, school or childcare facility built prior to 1978, you must comply with the new lead safety regulations, including:

- Painting and property management firms must be EPA certified and their employees must be trained in the use of lead safe work practices.  Painting and maintenance work must be performed in accordance with the EPA lead based paint renovation, repair and painting program standards.

- You must provide the building owners and residents with a specific new EPA lead hazard pamphlet.

- You must post lead hazard signs around the property.  You must follow EPA mandated lead safe work practices such as detailed dust containment measures and clean up and waste disposal procedures.

- You must maintain written documentation of your lead safe practices in accordance with EPA specifications

- For complete details on how the rules affect you, be sure to visit EPA website, www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/renovation.htm and download the brochure tilted " Small Entity Compliance Guide to Renovate Right: EPA's Lead-Based Paint, Renovation, Repair and Painting Program.

What is the EPA RRP Rule?

For complete information of the new law and compliance please click below

According to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, many homes, schools and day-care centers in the U.S. built before 1978 still have lead based paint.  Ordinary renovation and maintenance activities can create dust that contains lead.

New national EPA rules to protect against this risk went into effect in 2010.  Contractors performing work that disturbs lead based paint in homes, childcare facilities, and schools built before 1978 must be EPA certified, and follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination.

The potential penalties for not following the regulations are stiff.  Contractors can be fired up to $32,500 per violation, per day.​

About the New Rules

- The Lead Based Paint Renovation, Repair and Painting Program (RRP) is a federal regulatory program affecting contractors, property managers, and others who disturb painted surfaces.

- It applies to houses, apartments, and child occupied facilities such as schools and day care centers in the U.S. built before 1978.

- The new rules include resident education requirements as well as training, certification, and work practice requirements.  The rules apply to both interior and exterior painting and renovation projects.

As a painting contractor, I play

an important role in protecting public

health by helping prevent lead exposure.

How to get ready

Here are three suggested action steps that you as a professional painting contractor can start taking now:

- Learn more about the new EPA Lead Rule by visiting the EPA lead website at www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/renovation.htm.  Or call the National Lead Information Center at 1-800-424-5323 to have an information pamphlet sent to you.

- Get certified by attending an eight-hour EPA accredited training course.  Fees range from $310 to $870, depending on your work position.  A list of accredited training providers is available at the above EPA website or by calling the National Lead Information Center.

- Follow the lead rules, effective no later than April 22, regarding resident notification, lead safe work practices and clean up procedures and documentation and record keeping.

Welcome to Johnson Brothers Painting!

"A Professional and Friendly Painting Company Serving Delaware and Surrounding Counties"

"We want to be YOUR "Go To" Painting Company"

There are certain exceptions to the rules, such as when

- Work includes only painting and does not include sanding, scraping or other activities that may cause dust.

- Work disturbes less than six square feet of painted surfaces per room for interior work or less than 20 square feet of painted surfaces for exterior work.

- The area being renovated has been determined to be free of lead based paint by a certified renovator using an EPA recognized test kit.

- Housing is for the elderly or disabled and no children under age six reside there.

- Immediate renovators are required in emergency situations.